IB at Preshil
The benefits of an International Baccalaureate education
The International Baccalaureate (IB) provides a strong framework for the delivery of the Australian curriculum through the Primary Years Programme (PYP) for Prep to Grade 6, the Middle Years Programme (MYP) Years 7 to10 and the Diploma Programme (DP) for Years 11 and 12. The focus is on the development of the whole person rather than being narrowly academic, actively cultivating students as inquirers, knowledgeable thinkers and communicators who are principled, open-minded, caring, courageous, balanced and reflective; global citizens with an awareness of their common humanity. At Preshil, we want our students to have the ‘Courage to Question’ as a fundamental element of their learning.
The IB delivers a meaningful and rounded educational experience for children; one that is responsive to their needs and development as contributing members of a growing global community, rewarding physical activity and encouraging inclusivity throughout. Student agency is central to the IB, inspiring self-esteem, enabling collaborative work and giving children the tools to extend themselves beyond the confines of the standard curriculum to reach their highest potential.
In the Primary Years Programme, the IB challenges children to become active participants in their own education - respecting them as individuals in their own right, nurturing their strengths and encouraging creativity. Through an inquiry-led curriculum, children explore local and global issues through the lenses of different subjects, imbuing them with the confidence to question and think critically and creatively about the world around them.
The Middle Years Programme (MYP) encourages the development of students as active, compassionate and lifelong learners. Students are motivated to identify and make connections between traditional subjects and the tangible world. The individualised approach of the MYP gives students the opportunity to undertake mentored research into a particular area of interest, ensuring children remain engaged with their education. Students who undertake the MYP outperform non-IB students in critical academic skills and consistently achieve greater success in the examinations set for the Diploma Programme.
Whereas the VCE and its interstate counterparts pit students against one another in a competition to attain the highest marks in an outdated, factory-model approach, the IB Diploma Programme looks forward at the collective global futures of its students. It is intellectually rigorous, diverse and flexible to the needs and interests of students, and encourages collaboration between both students, and students and their teachers.
The Diploma is a global alternative to the state-based certificates, preparing students for tertiary study and their chosen career paths with the maturity and depth of understanding required to flourish.
The IB fosters outstanding teacher development and offers the best contemporary practice for teachers who enjoy the rigors required from each programme. Teachers must be qualified in their specific areas of study, in leading transdisciplinary projects and in teaching the executive skills that ensure optimum learning for children, right from their earliest years to their transition beyond school.
Perhaps most importantly, the IB requires students to focus on both their personal wellbeing and the wellbeing of their own communities.
